Dichotomy is a division into two contradictory or mutually exclusive parts. It is used in various fields, but oversimplification can be dangerous. False dichotomies exclude other options and are often used in arguments. Identifying them in politics can be helpful.
A dichotomy is a split into two parts that are considered contradictory or mutually exclusive. The black and white colors are a classic example of this: either something is black, or it is white, with no room for overlapping or alternatives. These divisions are used in a variety of ways and in an assortment of fields, from philosophy to biology, and learning to think about them can be important. It’s also a good idea for people to learn to identify a false dichotomy, in other words that they are not mutually exclusive.
The word comes from the Greek dichotomia, which means “to divide in two.” Humans have obviously been using dichotomies for centuries, as they can be invaluable tools for quickly identifying things and thinking about the world, although their danger is that they can quickly lead to oversimplification. This issue has been a common topic of discussion in many fields for thousands of years.
In biology, dichotomies are often used in keys, tools that are used to help people identify things. For example, a plant key could help people identify plants with a series of questions such as “Are the stems green?” Such a key is known as a “dichotomous key,” and these tools can be quite reliable if well designed, sharply bypassing options until the user is left with a solid identification. There are many other applications for these divisions in fields such as engineering, astronomy, economics and so on, and in some fields the word has a special meaning.
A well-known example of a false dichotomy is the saying “you are either with us or against us”. In this case the saying leaves out a third option, neutrality, setting up an “us against them” mentality which can be very dangerous. Such flaws in logic are often used in arguments, in hopes of overpowering an opponent into conceding a point by forcing the issue. As a general rule, something is a false dichotomy when its elements are not mutually exclusive or contradictory, or when some other option or concept is left out.
Learning to identify these rhetorical tricks in politics can be extremely helpful. For example, a running politician might say “we need better roads, so we need to raise taxes.” This obviously rules out the possibility of reallocating existing funds or using funds more efficiently. Gross simplification of issues is a common trait of many politicians, who want to encourage people to vote for them, along with their policies.
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